The moisture contents of all the palm components
and ground cover were determined by
collecting small samples of about l-2 kg each.
These samples were weighed and dried to constant
weight at 105°C. Sub-samples for nutrient
analysis were oven dried at 80°C and the
materials were then ground and analysed to
determine the concentrations of N, P, K, Ca and
Mg using standard analytical procedures. The
total nutrient contents of the various palm
components on a plot basis were calculated from
the dry matter content of the standing biomass
based on a palm density of 136 palms ha-l. The
total nutrient contents and dry matter of ground
cover, obtained from quadrat sampling, were
calculated on per hectare basis.